Offshore News

The Interior Department has now approved more than 19 gigawatts of offshore wind energy.The Biden-Harris administration today announced the approval of the SouthCoast Wind Project – the nation’s 11th commercial-scale offshore wind energy project approved under President Biden’s leadership. With today’s approval, the Department and its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have approved over 19 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy from offshore wind energy projects – enough to power more…

China has allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to board a Chinese bulk carrier at the centre of an investigation into Baltic Sea cable breaches, the Danish foreign minister said on Thursday.The Yi Peng 3 vessel is wanted in Sweden for questioning over a breach of two undersea fibre-optic cables in November, and has been stationary in waters nearby for a month while diplomats in Stockholm and Beijing discussed the matter.Investigators quickly zeroed in on the ship, which left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on Nov.

U.S.

KENC Engineering has secured multiple contract awards from an unnamed transport and installation (T&I) contractor to provide engineering work for a jack-up vessel set for operations at U.K. offshore wind farm.KENC’s scope of work includes the design and engineering of a hose reel platform that houses the HPU (hydraulic power unit), a hose saddle, a control cabin work frame and a gangway platform. The challenge was to come up with custommade solutions that were light, stable and strong to fit the deck requirements of the jack-up vessel.Engineering is already well underway…

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract with Golar LNG, valued over $25 million, to provide an integrated package of electrical, control, safety and propulsion systems for the Golar MK II floating liquified natural gas (FLNG) vessel.Konsberg’s equipment will form key part of the new onboard systems for a major rebuild project in which Golar’s LNG tanker Fuji LNG, will be lengthened by nearly 100 meters and converted to a FLNG vessel.The work is being carried out at the CIMC Raffles shipyard in Yantai…

Alexandre de Gusmão floating, production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit has departed in China and is now on its way to Brazil where it will be deployed at Petrobras’ Mero field, in the Santos Basin.The Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO left China on December 16, following the completion of the construction at COSCO Shipping’s shipyard and the delivery to leasing partners SBM Offshore and Petrobras.The FPSO can produce 180,000 barrels of oil per day and compresses 12 million cubic meters of gas daily.The unit is expected to start operations in 2025…

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has awarded Hanwha Ocean an Approval in Principle (AIP) for its Pre-FEED standard FPSO design intended to create an asset optimized for deployment in the deep waters of West Africa.The FPSO design is 340 meters long and capable of storing approximately 2.38 million barrels of crude oil, with a daily crude oil production capacity of 190,000 barrels.Developed to accommodate topsides for crude oil and or gas production facilities, the hull is designed…

Brunvoll won another contract with Myklebust Shipyard for the delivery of a comprehensive thruster package, an additional vessel for REM Offshore, the option originally announced in May 2024. Like the previous contract, this agreement also includes an option for a third additional vessel.Brunvoll’s thruster package consists of two propulsion azimuth thrusters, two retractable azimuth thrusters, and a tunnel thruster. This configuration is the same as the previous vessel announced in May, except that this vessel with be equipped with a slightly larger tunnel thruster.

The hull of the first TWIN X-STERN Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) for BS Offshore arrived Ulstein Verft on 18 December 2024. This milestone marks the start-up of the outfitting for Yard Number 320 at Ulstein Verft.Ulstein Verft welcomed BS Offshore back at the shipyard. This will be their first ULSTEIN SX222 CSOV. The hull arrival marks a significant milestone in constructing this state-of-the-art vessel, designed to support the growing offshore wind industry. The SX222 design…

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have partnered up to develop Floating CO2 Storage Units (FCSU) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects in the Republic of Korea in an effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions.The collaboration will center on validating and certifying cutting-edge CCS technologies that are cost-effective and sustainable.By blending BV's certification expertise with SHI's innovative technology, the partnership aims to set new industry standards and accelerate the deployment of CCS solutions that can drive a greener…

DNV has released a competence standard (ST) for methanol and a recommended practice (RP) for ammonia, to enable crew and shipowners to tackle the safety risks and challenges posed by the introduction of new alternative fuels and technologies through shipping’s decarbonization.While new fuels and technologies are key to achieving maritime decarbonization, their adoption necessitates robust safety and competence frameworks.According to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insights platform,…

The arrival of the dredger Willem Van Rubroeck in Ndayane has marked the start of maritime works for the $1.2 billion Port of Ndayane, a project led by Dubai-owned ports and logistics firm DP World, which aims to transform Senegal into a major center for global trade.The vessel will dredge a 5 km-long shipping channel - an essential step in building this high-capacity port designed to elevate Senegal’s trade infrastructure.Phase 1 of the project includes an 840 m quay and a 5…

Golar LNG has decided to call off the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel conversion job with Seatrium, following the sale of a Moss type liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Golar Gandria for demolition.The first two floating liquefaction vessels delivered by Seatrium to Golar LNG are Hilli Episeyo deployed in the Kribi gas field located offshore Cameroon, and Golar Gimi FLNG deployed in the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim field located offshore Mauritania and Senegal.Following Golar LNG’s sale of the 1977-built Golar Gandria for demolition in 2023…

Wind parks operating in the Spanish region of Galicia will be obliged to replace ageing turbines after 25 years under a package of measures approved by the regional parliament on Tuesday, sparking an outcry from the renewables industry.Under the rules which come into force on Jan. 1, developers risk losing their operating permits unless they begin replacing 25-year-old turbines with new, more efficient and taller wind mills.Critics say the measure - the first of its kind to be approved in Europe - jeopardises the development of essential renewable projects and increases legal uncertainty.

Geoquip Marine, a Njord Partners portfolio company, has added a seventh vessel to their fleet, which is being converted from a platform supply vessel (PSV) to the geotechnical services platform for the offshore energy sector.The Geoquip Silvretta vessel, originally built as PSV by Green Yard Kleven (Green Yard), is being converted in Norway.The conversion, scheduled for completion in spring 2025, will include the installation of Geoquip's largest drilling rig, the GMTR150.The rig will ensure a low carbon footprint…

Spilled oil has washed up along "tens of kilometres" of the Russian Black Sea coast after two tankers were badly damaged in a storm at the weekend, a regional official said on Tuesday, and state media said a third vessel was now in trouble.TASS news agency said the third ship, also a tanker, had issued a distress signal off the port of Kavkaz, but its hull was still intact, there was no oil spillage and the crew was safe.The first ship, the Volgoneft 212, split in half on Sunday in the Kerch Strait, between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Japan-based Penta-Ocean Construction has signed a shipbuilding contract with PaxOcean Group for the construction of a self-propelled large-scale cable laying vessel (CLV), expanding its capabilities from offshore wind turbine construction to power cable laying for the industry.The new CLV will be self-propelled, mounted with two 5,000 t cable carousels (a total of 10,000 t) also known as cable storage, enabling safe and efficient cable laying in the open sea with severe metocean conditions.Equipped with a latest trencher (for burying cables) and work class ROV…

Seaway7, part of Subsea7 Group, has secured a contract for the transport and installation of pin-pile jacket foundations and transition pieces for the 1.1 GW Inch Cape offshore wind farm in Scotland.The contract, valued between $150 million and $300 million, has been awarded to Seaway7 by Cape Offshore Limited, a joint venture between ESB and Red Rock Renewables.The 1.1GW Inch Cape project offshore site is located in the Scottish North Sea, 15 kilometers off the Angus coast, and will comprise 72 wind turbine generators.The turbines of the V236-15.0 MW type…

Tugdock has reached a significant milestone as its Tugdock Submersible Platform (TSP) is awarded the prestigious ‘Statement of Feasibility’ from DNV, the world’s leading  independent energy expert and assurance provider.This endorsement recognizes the TSP as a transformative technology with applications across multiple markets, including floating offshore wind, vessel drydocking and decommissioning.The TSP is a pinned, open steel-frame that uses the company’s patented vertical air buoyancy cylinders.

Houston-based Noble Corporation contracted with Kongsberg Digital for the delivery of navigation, engine and dynamic positioning (DP) simulators based on Kongsberg Maritime’s K-Pos DP system. The simulators will be tailored and integrated with Kongsberg Maritime’s Riser Monitoring System (RMS) and electronic Well Specific Operating Guidelines (eW-SOG) to meet Noble’s training needs.Noble will be the first company globally to implement such an advanced DP drilling training solution for in-house Nautical Institute-accredited training.

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract with Compagnie Maritime Monegasque (CMM) to deliver advanced ship design and technology for six hybrid platform supply vessels (PSVs), with oil spill recovery capacity, which will support Petrobras’ offshore operations.CMM was ranked first in Petrobras’ tender for six state-of-the-art, hybrid large multipurpose 5,000 DWT PSVs with oil spill recovery capacity, positing the company to secure a firm 12-year charter contracts with Petrobras…

The Australian Government has declared a new offshore wind zone in Bass Strait, north of Tasmania.Tasmania has some of the best wind resources in the world. Bass Strait has been named as one of the top options for offshore wind energy generation in the country by the Australian Energy Market Operator.The new zone could support up to 20GW of renewable energy – more than half of the current electricity demand across southeast Australia. One rotation of a single offshore wind turbine…

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced today that it is issuing a Determination of Competitive Interest in two Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the Gulf of Mexico. The determination comes after an unsolicited request from Hecate Energy Gulf Wind LLC expressing interest in acquiring a commercial wind energy lease for WEA options C and D. On July 29, 2024, BOEM published a Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI) in the Federal Register seeking feedback on Hecate’s unsolicited lease request. Invenergy GOM Offshore Wind LLC expressed interest in WEA options C and D.

Texas-based exploration and production company Beacon Offshore Energy has awarded a contract to Subsea7 for the work on Monument development in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.The project involves the installation of a high-pressure 27-kilometre subsea tieback to the Shenandoah Floating Production System (FPS), located in Walker Ridge Block 316 at water depths reaching up to 2,000 meters.Subsea7's scope of work includes the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of subsea equipment…

Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm, a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vårgrønn, has signed a vessel reservation agreement with Seaway7 to support the construction of the offshore wind farm being built in the U.K. North Sea.The contract represents additional work for Seaway7 at the Dogger Bank offshore wind development, where it is currently installing monopile foundations and transition pieces.The value of the agreement is between $150 million and $300 million…

Zelim, an Edinburgh-based maritime safety innovator, has appointed a former Commander of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Matthew Mitchell to lead its U.S. office as part of the strategy to open new markets for its man-overboard and security threat detection and recovery technologies.Commander Matthew Mitchell, who has 20 years’ service with the USCG, most recently as head of search and rescue and policy, joins Zelim as Director of Search and Rescue to lead the newly incorporated…

RightShip, an ESG-focused digital maritime platform, has released a revised timeline for implementing its vessel inspection age trigger, reducing the inspection threshold from 14 to 10 years through a four-phased approach.The update has been introduced after extensive industry engagement, following the initial announcement of the inspection age trigger in October 2024.Constructive dialogue with RightShip’s customers and respected industry associations - including INTERCARGO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)…

Marine geosciences and offshore construction support services firm Next Geosolutions has acquired a multi-purpose survey vessel (MPSV) from Beitveit Holding for $7.1 million.The vessel, Sea Admiral, will be renamed NG EXPLORER, and will be used for geophysical, geotechnical, environmental and UXO surveys.The NG EXPLORER, with a length of 58 meters and a width of 14 meters, is an MPSV built in 2010 and equipped with a Dynamic Positioning Class II (DP2) system and diesel-electric…

QatarEnergy has selected the joint venture of Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) and China’s COSCO Shipping LNG Investment (Shanghai) (CSLNG) to own and operate six QC-Max size LNG vessels.The six vessels will be built in China by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).These vessels are the last batch of the 128 LNG vessels in QatarEnergy’s historic ship building program, made up of 104 conventional and 24 QC-Max size ultra…

RWE and TotalEnergies have selected the port of Eemshaven in the northern Dutch province of Groningen as the base for turbine assembly and construction work for their joint offshore wind project OranjeWind in the Dutch North Sea.The OranjeWind joint venture has signed an agreement with Buss Terminal Eemshaven, with the pre-assembly and offshore construction of turbines to be carried out in 2027.Construction activities at the offshore wind site will start in early 2026. Buss Terminal Eemshaven will facilitate the offloading…

Shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has secured an Approval in Principle (AiP) from certification body Bureau Veritas for its standard Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit (FPSO) design, which includes the latest developments in advanced digital solutions to support more energy efficient operations.Standard FPSO design of Hanwha Ocean measures 340 meters in length and 62 meters in width, with a crude oil storage capacity of 2.38 million barrels and a production capacity of 190…

Iberdrola has received a production license from the Portuguese Directorate-General for Energy and Geology of Portugal (DGEG), taking another step towards the construction of the largest wind farm in Portugal.Located in the districts of Vila Real and Braga, in northern Portugal, with a total investment of around €350 million, this project reinforces Iberdrola's commitment to environmental goals, being the first to combine wind and hydro energy. This implies sharing of the connection point and the evacuation line of electricity produced…

Taiwan raised its alert level on Monday saying China has set up seven zones of reserved airspace and deployed naval fleets and coast guard boats in what a security source described as the first military drills across a broad swathe of the region's waters.A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters that China currently has nearly 90 navy and coast guard ships in waters near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands and the East and South China Seas, of which around two-thirds were navy vessels.Beijing's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.China…

Belgian oil tanker company CMB.TECH has soled three Suezmax vessels to Bocimar International, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMB.The Suezmax vessels include Selena (2007, 150,205 dwt) Cap Victor (2007, 158,853 dwt) and Cap Felix (2008, 158,765 dwt).The sale will generate a capital gain of $70.9 million, and the vessels will be delivered to their new owner in December 2024, CMB.TECH said.“The transaction enables the company to manage its portfolio of ships in line with its strategy of decarbonizing and optimizing its fleet.

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has delivered IT Infinity vessel to I.T. International Telecom Marine (IT), after completing its conversion from Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) to specialized Cable Laying Vessel (CLV).Built at Vard Brattvaag and delivered to Volstad Maritime in 2008 as the Volstad Princess, the vessel has changed ownership several times.SD Standard Drilling acquired the ship in 2017, before it was sold to IT in 2021 and renamed IT Infinity.In 2024, the vessel returned to VARD for an extensive conversion…

The unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.8% (not seasonally adjusted) in November 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).These data have been updated on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Unemployment in Transportation dashboard. In November 2024, the transportation sector unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points from 4.5% in November 2023 and was above the pre-pandemic November 2019 level of 3.3%. Unemployment in the transportation…

The first jacket foundation for the substation of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project has departed from the Danish Port of Esbjerg and is on its way to the United States to be installed at the country’s largest offshore wind farm.The first of three offshore jacket foundations, standing 60-meter-tall and weighing approximately 2,445.6 tonnes, has been shipped from the production site at the Port of Esbjerg where it was manufactured.The jacket foundation will serve…

Greensea IQ appointed Brooks Converse as Director of Business Development, focused on driving the growth and adoption of EverClean, the company’s flagship in-water hull cleaning solution, while building stronger partnerships within the maritime industry.Converse holds a Master of Science in International Transportation Management from the State University of New York Maritime College, and his understanding of port operations equips him to effectively address the challenges and…

The crew of Panama-flagged cargo ship MV ISA STAR have been rescued in the Red Sea after sending a distress signal, the EU's Aspides naval mission said."All crew members aboard the MV ISA STAR have been rescued and will be transported to Djibouti, the nearest safe port of call," Aspides said in a statement posted on Facebook.The vessel had reported flooding in the engine room and the master requested assistance, it said, as its crew of 20 were forced to abandon it.One maritime…

Sembcorp Industries has signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Chevron’s Singapore branch to import up to 0.6 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) year, starting from 2028.The LNG deliveries will take place over the course of 10 years as agreed by the companies.The SPA will further strengthen Sembcorp’s existing natural gas supply portfolio from diversified piped and liquefied sources globally.As a key natural gas importer for Singapore, Sembcorp reiterated its…

A Chinese fishing vessel is under the control of alleged pirates in Somalia's waters in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, the European Union's anti-piracy naval force said on Thursday.The anti-piracy force said the vessel with up to 18 crew members on board had been taken over by pirates, some armed with AK-47s and machine guns. It classified the incident as a robbery at sea.No crew members were injured in the incident, the anti-piracy force added.Somali pirates caused havoc in the waters off the Horn of Africa nation's long coastline between 2008 and 2018.

Seattle-based maritime data analytics company ioCurrents has signed a strategic agreement with engine supplier Bergen Engine, expanding the reach of its MarineInsight data analytics platform.The partnership will enable Bergen Engines to offer ioCurrents’ MarineInsight platform as a value-added solution to customers in new builds, repowers, and overhauls, leveraging real-time data analytics to optimize vessel performance.By combining Bergen Engines’ expertise in designing and delivering high-performance medium speed engines and power systems with ioCurrents’ data analytics…

ABL Group has entered into an agreement to acquire Brazil-based naval architecture and engineering consultancy Proper Marine, increasing its expertise in floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) sector.Proper Marine will be merged with ABL’s design and engineering arm Longitude.The company will expand ABL’s design and engineering capabilities with a team of over 90 professionals and a track-record of more than 1,600 projects.The acquisition will strengthen ABL Group’s offering in both Brazil and the wider Americas within vessel design and conversion…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Malaysia’s MISC have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in innovation, research and development (R&D) and test-bedding activities, to advance digital transformation in the maritime industry.As part of the three-year arrangement, both parties will focus on integrating sustainable digital technologies into marine operations, enhance processes through data-sharing initiatives and cybersecurity…

A rescue operation is under way for the crew of a Panama-flagged cargo vessel that was abandoned off the port of Hodeidah in the Red Sea, three maritime security sources said on Thursday.The cause of the incident remained unclear and the number of crew on board was not known.The crew were forced to abandon the vessel, one of the sources told Reuters, adding that the ship experienced engine problems.

The U.S. plans to issue a study on the environmental and economic effects of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports by the middle of this month, a Department of Energy official said on Wednesday."We expect to release the final study ... by mid-December for a 60-day public comment period," Brad Crabtree, an assistant secretary at the DOE, told lawmakers at a House of Representatives hearing.The administration of Democratic President Joe Biden put a pause in January on approvals of new LNG exports to countries with which the U.S.

Shell is stepping back from new offshore wind investments and is splitting its power division following an extensive review of the business that was once seen as a key driver of the company's energy transition strategy.The changes are part of a company-wide review launched in 2023 aimed at reducing costs as CEO Wael Sawan focuses on activities with the highest returns. In many cases that has meant reducing spending on low-carbon and renewable businesses and increasing the focus on oil…

Equinor has exercised a three-year option for AKOFS Offshore’s well intervention vessel AKOFS Seafarer.The option period is estimated to start in late fourth quarter of 2025, after the vessel has completed its customary Special Periodic Survey (SPS) and in direct continuation of the current contract period.The option period has a total value of about $300 million and means that the vessel will perform light well intervention services (LWI) for Equinor up to late fourth quarter of 2028.Classified as well intervention unit in compliance with the IMO-MODU code…

The Nordic Roadmap project has unveiled the Fuel Transition Roadmap for Nordic Shipping, a comprehensive document outlining a decarbonization strategy for the region, which urges the Nordic ministers to close the cost gap associated with the fuel transition.The roadmap has been developed by the project team led by DNV with members from MAN Energy Solutions, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Chalmers University of Technology, Menon Economics, and Litehauz, and in collaboration with more than 60 industry partners.To decarbonize…

China and the Philippines gave conflicting versions on Wednesday of a maritime confrontation around a contested shoal in the South China Sea, the latest row in a longstanding dispute between the neighbours.Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons and side-swiped a Manila fisheries bureau boat on the way to deliver supplies to Filipino fishermen in the area, according to Philippines officials, a move that drew condemnation from the United States.The incident follows a diplomatic…

FTAI Aviation, part of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors, has sold two of its remaining offshore energy vessels for approximately $143 million.FTAI Aviation sold the Pioneer DP2 subsea support vessel and the Pride DP3 offshore well intervention vessel to an unnamed customer.The M/V Pioneer, built in 2011, is a DNV classed vessel fully SPS compliant, with an overall length of 82 meters and breadth of 20 meters and provides over 700 square meters of clear deck space.It is equipped with a 50-ton constant tension subsea crane…

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced its approval of the Construction and Operations Plan for the Maryland Offshore Wind project.This is the final approval needed for the project from BOEM following the Department of the Interior’s September 2024 Record of Decision. This significant milestone advances the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030.“I am pleased to announce BOEM’s approval of our nation’s tenth commercial-scale offshore wind energy project.

German container line operator Hapag-Lloyd has implemented Shipshave’s In Transit Cleaning of Hull (ITCH) solution for proactive fouling removal on two of its container ships, achieving significant fuel savings and emissions reduction results.In order to independently verify the benefit of proactive fouling removal, Shipshave in cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd commissioned DNV to analyse operational performance data from two Hapag-Lloyd container ships equipped with the ITCH solution.The vessels are of 8…

Akastor's subsidiary DDW Offshore has secured a contract extension with Petrofac for its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Skandi Emerald.The contract extension is for six months, meaning the contract term has now been extended to July 14, 2025.To remind, Petrofac already extended the contract for Skandi Emerald AHTS in January 2024, following the original one-year contract the companies signed in September 2022.Skandi Emerald AHTS Set for Petrofac’s Northern Endeavour FPSO JobAt the time…

In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today issued a Record of Decision identifying environmental measures expected to be applied to future wind energy development of the six lease areas offshore New York and New Jersey in an area known as the New York Bight. BOEM estimates that full development of the six lease areas could generate up to 7 GW of offshore wind energy, enough to power up to two million homes.

The latest figures from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform have confirmed that a total of 27 new orders for alternative fueled vessels have been placed in November 2024.According to DNV’s AFI platform, LNG continues to be the main driver, accounting for 23 vessels, with most of these (15) coming from the container segment.November 2024 has also been a strong month for the car carrier segment, with six new LNG-fueled vessels added to the orderbook.Four new orders for…

Senesco Marine has launched its sixth Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV), the WindServe Spartan, which will put to service for United States’ growing offshore wind industry.WindServe Marine, a sister company to the Rhode Island shipbuilder Senesco Marine - both part of the Reinauer Group - will operate the CTV.“This state-of-the-art vessel is set to begin its important work off the coast, showcasing our commitment to excellence and innovation. A big shoutout to our incredible team for their hard work and dedication…

Energy and marine consultancy ABL has completed its scope of work as marine warranty surveyor (MWS) to support the successful transport and re-installation of the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Toscana, off the coast of Livorno in Italy.ABL was appointed on this project by OLT Offshore LNG Toscana, the owner of FSRU Toscana.In mid-April 2024, the FSRU Toscana was successfully towed with the support of two tugs, to the port of Genoa, Italy, where it began the first phase of an 'extraordinary maintenance intervention' campaign.

Swedish wave energy company CorPower Ocean has partnered with SwitchH2, offshore floating production systems developer for the delivery of green hydrogen and green ammonia, to deliver industrial-scale floating green ammonia production facility partially powered by wave energy.With backing from Norway-based BW Offshore and Dutch Oceans Capital, SwitcH2 is leading the development of industrial-scale offshore green hydrogen and green ammonia production units based on proven FPSO (floating production…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has launched the Mitsui Ocean Fuji cruise ship, owned by MOL Group company MOL Cruises.The 32,477-ton Mitsui Ocean Fuji, the first cruise ship in Japan with all suite cabins, will offer a total of five debut cruise packages and one New Year's cruise through January 2025.In addition to cruises to and from Yokohama, it also offers cruises to andfrom Kobe and Nagoya, and cruise to and from Beppu, Shimonoseki, Shingu, Kochi, Nagoya, Sakaide, Kobe, Matsuyama…

PTSC Asia Pacific, a joint venture between Yinson Production and PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), has secured a contract for the provision, charter, operation and maintenance of the floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel for the Lac Da Vang project offshore Vietnam.PTSC Asia Pacific executed the contract with Murphy Cuu Long Bac Oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation.The FSO will be a newbuild double-hull vessel with storage capacity around 500…

American Offshore Services (A-O-S) has taken delivery of a hybrid-ready ready Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV), the third G-Class vessel for the company in 2024, which will support the development of offshore wind industry on the United States’ East Coast.The vessel, named M/V Guarder, has been designed and developed in partnership with Northern Offshore Services (N-O-S) to transfer technicians and equipment to the rapidly expanding offshore wind industry, a service crucial for constructing and maintaining wind energy infrastructure.As a ‘future-proof’ platform…

GAIL (India) has signed a long-term time charter contract with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) for a newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship.The LNG ship will be a modern two-stroke vessel having a tank capacity of 1,74,000 cubic metres and will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries.The contract was signed through GAIL’s ship-owning company established in Singapore.This is the first long-term time charter contract between GAIL and "K" LINE involving a newly built vessel which is expected to be engaged in transportation of LNG for GAIL in 2027.GAIL currently has four LNG vessels…

Alternative fuels could account for up to a fifth of A.P. Moller-Maersk's marine fuel consumption in 2030 as part of its goal to reach net zero by 2040, a senior company executive said on Thursday.The container shipping giant typically consumes between 10 and 11 million metric tons of fuel oil equivalent per year, of which 3% were alternative fuels last year, Emma Mazhari, vice president, head of energy markets, told reporters.The world's fleet moves more than 80% of global trade…

Marine construction contractor Red7Marine has supported subsea solutions specialist N-Sea Group in a critical export cable repair project for the 576 MW Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea.With complete delivery of two jack-up barges, supporting tugs, a 220t telescopic crawler crane, accommodation and catering service, Red7Marine’s end-to-end package enabled N-Sea to focus on its project goals of completing the repair project.N-Sea Group was contracted by an Offshore…

DEME has been awarded a contract, worth up to $52 million, for the construction of an offshore wind terminal in the Port of Cuxhaven in Germany.The terminal will boost Cuxhaven’s position as a key offshore industrial hub to support the handling of heavy-duty loads, particularly components for offshore wind farms.Operated by Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts), the expanded offshore wind terminal will consist of three (5-7) berths and 1,250 metres of quay wall for heavy loads, as well as a storage area of 38 hectare.As part of a consortium…

Satellite images obtained by Reuters on Thursday show a build-up of Chinese civilian vessels near contested Thitu Island, Manila's key outpost in the South China Sea, but a senior Philippine navy officer said they are "not a cause for concern".One of the images taken by Maxar Technologies on Monday and reviewed by Reuters shows about 60 vessels, some within 2 nautical miles of Thitu, a strategically important island from which Manila monitors Chinese vessels and aircraft in the busy waterway.Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Sea1 Offshore has secured contract extension from marine geophysical service provider PXGEO for its offshore subsea construction vessel (OSCV) Sea1 Spearfish.PXGEO exercised the option to extend the contract for Sea1 Spearfish OSCV for one more year until the first quarter of 2026.The vessel will continue to be engaged within the marine geophysical segment and support charterer's operations world-wide.Sea1 Offshore entered the one year contract with PXGEO for the vessel back in February 2024…

Hapag-Lloyd has reached an agreement with China-based Goldwind for the delivery of 250,000 tonnes of green methanol per year, which will lead to savings of up to 400,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions per year.The green methanol will consist of a blend of bio- and e-methanol, ensuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of at least 70%, and comply with all current sustainability certification requirements.By 2030, Hapag-Lloyd aims to reduce the absolute GHG emissions of the fleet by around one third compared to 2022.

Three years after bulk carrier MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef off Mauritius, spilling 1000 tons of a new type of marine fuel oil, Curtin University-led research has confirmed the oil is still present in an environmentally sensitive mangrove forest close to Ramsar conservation sites.Lead researcher Dr. Alan Scarlett, from Curtin’s WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Center in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the chemical ‘fingerprint’ of the oil found in…

New MPV brings increased versatility to workboat sector.Damen Shipyards Group and Herman Sr. have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the construction of a new Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) 4916. The LOI was signed during the Offshore Energy exhibition in Amsterdam on 26 November by Jeroen van Woerkum on behalf of Damen and Chris and Erwin van Dodewaard of behalf of Herman Sr.Next level versatilityThe MPV 4916 will be the first in a series of vessels combining the qualities of the…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to deepen cooperation in the fields of decarbonization, digitalization, and human resources development.MOL and MPA have been cooperating in various initiatives to decarbonize the maritime industry, the new agreement will further promote these initiatives in a wide range of fields.Specifically, the scope of the MoU covers the collaboration in the field of decarbonization in the maritime industry in general.

Sweden is asking a Chinese vessel to return to Swedish waters to help facilitate the Nordic country's investigation into recent breaches of undersea fibre-optic cables in the Baltic Sea, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday.Two subsea cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged in less than 24 hours on Nov. 17-18, raising suspicions of sabotage, countries and companies involved said.Denmark's military said soon afterwards that its vessels were staying close to Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3…

U.S. oil and gas producers are unlikely to radically increase production under president-elect Donald Trump as companies remain focused on capital discipline, a senior executive at Exxon Mobil said."We're not going to see anybody in 'drill, baby, drill' mode," Liam Mallon, head of Exxon's upstream division, told the Energy Intelligence Forum conference in London."A radical change (in production) is unlikely because the vast majority, if not everybody, is focused on the economics of what they're doing," he said.

Donald Trump's transition team is putting together a wide-ranging energy package to roll out within days of his taking office that would approve export permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and increase oil drilling off the U.S. coast and on federal lands, according to two sources familiar with the plans.The energy checklist largely reflects promises Trump made on the campaign trail, but the plan to roll out the list as early as day one ensures that oil and gas…

A key consideration in planning for the future of offshore wind is designing and delivering the maritime assets that are 'future-proof', able to scale with the growing size of offshore wind pieces and components.A collaboration between Concordia Damen, Amasus, deugro Danmark, Siemens Gamesa, and DEKC Maritime aims to do exactly that, in the development and construction of two new and advanced Offshore Wind RoRo vessels: Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon. These vessels, of which the first one launched yesterday at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard…

President-elect Donald Trump's support for the fossil fuel sector and climate scepticism have sparked dismay throughout the global climate tracking community, and fears that his policies may reverse global energy transition momentum.His campaign speeches included pledges to boost domestic oil and natural gas output and to remove mandates on electric vehicle production, but he has yet to publish many specific new energy policies.This lack of clarity has spurred despair among the climate community as it braces for the worst.But a look back at the trends across the U.S.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 to propose new rules governing undersea internet cables in the face of growing security concerns in the wake of two fiber-optic undersea telecommunication cables being severed in the Baltic Sea this week, which is suspected to be sabotage.The FCC eyes new rules to address the national security concerns over the global network of more than 400 subsea cables that handle more than 98% of international internet traffic."With the expansion of data centers…

CSL OWL Subsea Rock Installation, a newly formed partnership between the CSL Group and Offshore Wind Logistics (OWL), has ordered two newbuild subsea rock installation vessels tailored for the offshore wind sector.Each vessel will have a cargo capacity of 17,500 metric tonnes and will be equipped with dynamic positioning (DP2).They will be able to operate on marine gas oil (MGO) and/or methanol, providing a pathway to zero emission operations.Purpose-built for optimal flexibility…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured multiple new contracts and contract extensions, whose combined value is $60 million.Solstad secured one new contract, and one contract extension from Petrobras, for work offshore Brazil.Namely, Petrobras awarded an 18-month firm contract for the construction support vessel (CSV) Normand Valiant. The start of the contract is scheduled for February 2025 in direct continuation of current contract.Solastad also secured a contract extension for its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Normand Sagaris…

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) have signed an agreement that establishes a framework for strengthening technology research and development in the shipbuilding and marine industries.The two organizations will cooperate in the use of research facilities and equipment, as well as testing and certification. Further, they plan to provide mutual information exchanges and professional education through seminars, workshops and other network building events.“Maritime and offshore technologies are evolving rapidly.

Ocean services provider DeepOcean has secured a long-term subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) contract from Equinor, its largest contract on record.The eight-year contract will set a new benchmark for digitalized and environmentally friendly IMR operations.Equinor and DeepOcean have signed a contract for IMR services covering the period 2027-2035 for Equinor-operated assets on the Norwegian continental shelf and in Europe.The contract will be served by an extensive team of specialist subsea engineers…

The Netherlands plans to temporarily enlist additional personnel and equipment from private companies to strengthen security in its part of the North Sea, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday, confirming media reports.The decision follows reports last year from Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD that Dutch North Sea infrastructure, such as gas pipes and windmills, is the target of Russian sabotage activities.

Container shipping companies like Maersk, CMA CGM and COSCO have ordered hundreds of new vessels in recent years meant to help their industry slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to meet rising demand from customers and regulators around the globe.Their order books, however, reflect uncertainty over which of a wide array of so-called green fuels will become the standard in the decades to come, and whether supplies will be cheap and abundant enough to keep their fleets in motion.Decarbonizing…

At a recent seminar in London organized by the International Underwriting Association of London (IUA) and the Association of Average Adjusters (AAA), participants heard how ignoring or not fully understanding the concept of General Average (GA) when concluding charter-party contracts for offshore services could cause problems in the event of an incident or accident.Michiel Starmans, a Fellow of the AAA and Director Legal Department of the Spliethoff Group and Alf Inge Johannessen…

U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories last week rose more than forecast, while distillate stockpiles posted a larger-than-expected draw, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.Crude inventories rose by 545,000 barrels to 430.3 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 15, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 138,000-barrel rise.Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub fell by 140,000 barrels in the week, the EIA said. Net U.S.

Poland is planning to assign new areas for offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea and is drafting additional measures to boost the security of its critical energy infrastructure, government officials said on Wednesday."Maritime offices will submit analyses any moment, which will give grounds to make a decision on designating new areas for offshore wind farms," Deputy Infrastructure Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka told an industry conference.Poland is boosting its offshore ambitions in the Baltic Sea…

AST Reygar has introduced its BareFLEET remote monitoring system, a solution designed to optimize Service Operation Vessels (SOV) performance in real-time, while providing long-term operational insights.BareFLEET delivers actionable insights across key areas, including fuel consumption, emissions, vessel motion, gangway operability, and navigation activity.The system was developed in response to challenges faced by SOV operators responding to unprecedented growth of offshore wind…

Energy and marine consultancy ABL has expanded its global presence with a new office in New Zealand, to support the country’s growing maritime and offshore energy markets.The ABL New Zealand office will be led by experienced maritime professional Morwenna Vye, offering the company’s full range of energy and marine consultancy services.Leveraging the global expertise and resources of ABL Group, the new office will specialize in services including technical due diligence, technical advisory and management consultancy…

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate said that Norway's oil and gas production in October exceeded the official forecast by 5 percent.Norway is Europe's biggest supplier of natural gases and oil. However, output can vary from month to months depending on maintenance and other stops at over 90 offshore fields.The total oil, gas liquids, natural condensate and gas production stood at 0.657 standard cubic metres (SCM) per day. This is equivalent to 4,13 million barrels oil equivalent.The…

Advanced boat-handling systems supplied by Vestdavit have been installed on the newbuild CSOV Olympic Notos delivered for Olympic by Norway’s Ulstein Verft, which is raising the bar in terms of sustainability and operational efficiency for such vessels employed in the offshore energy sector.The leading Norwegian supplier provided a total package of five davits for the vessel including two H-9001 davits - one dedicated lifeboat davit and the other a combination of MOB (man overboard) and lifeboat davit.

The damaging of two undersea telecoms cables in the Baltic Sea should be presumed to be sabotage, Germany said on Tuesday, while Lithuania's armed forces boosted surveillance of its waters in response."No one believes that these cables were cut accidentally. I also don't want to believe in versions that these were ship anchors that accidentally caused the damage," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said before a meeting with EU colleagues in Brussels.Two fibre-optic cables - one linking Finland and Germany…

Anyone who knows Aaron Smith, president and CEO of OMSA, knows that he is passionately focused on the U.S. maritime industry and staunchly defending the U.S. Jones Act fleet and mariners. We caught with Smith on the sidelines of the Workboat Show in New Orleans last week. Highlights of the conversation are below – including an update on the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act – the full interview can be seen on Maritime Reporter TV.Let’s talk a bit about the offshore energy industry today.

Maritime digital decarbonization services provider VPS has entered a partnership agreement with Veracity, DNV’s independent data platform, to streamline monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) services for offshore vessels.The partnership will enable a transfer of validated and checked operational MRV data from VPS’ Maress system, to the Veracity data platform, where it is connected to the DNV's real-time data verification services.By streamlining data collection, validation and verification…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and the Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the joint study of a liquefied hydrogen carrier.This is the first such agreement in Japan between a shipping company and a power generation regarding marine transport of liquefied hydrogen, which is a key element in the establishment of a hydrogen fuel supply chain.Under the MoU, the two companies will conduct a detailed study and review of the optimal vessels and operations in the liquefied hydrogen supply chain…

Almost five years ago, BP embarked on an ambitious attempt to transform itself from an oil company into a business focused on low-carbon power. The British company is now trying to return to its roots as a big oil and gas player with a growth story to match rivals, revive its share price and allay investor concerns over future profits.Rivals Shell and Norway's state-controlled Equinor are also scaling back energy transition plans set out earlier this decade. Their change of direction…

There’s plenty to go around for everyone, no matter it comes from.I will admit that attending the 2024 Workboat Show in the Big Easy just ten days after settling into the MarineNews Editor’s chair (for this, the second time around) had my full attention. The event typically evokes the specter of drinking from the proverbial fire hose in routine times, but attending and digesting all it has to offer, right out of the gate, makes the task just little bit edgier. Ultimately, last week’s trade show exuded terrific energy, from exhibitors to attendees alike.

Eco Wave Power has received the final Nationwide Permit (NWP) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its wave energy project at AltaSea’s premises at the Port of Los Angeles.The milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of Eco Wave Power’s pioneering wave energy project, which is set to become the first onshore wave energy installation in the United States.The permit, authorizes Eco Wave Power to install eight wave energy floaters on the piles of an existing concrete wharf structure.The system will also include an energy conversion unit…

DNV has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Seatrium to cooperate on strategic activities and projects in the areas of engineering, technology and new product design, with key focus on floating offshore energy solutions.Under the MoU, DNV will provide Seatrium with expert advice on market and regulatory trends, emerging technologies, and best practices for environmental, safety and quality standards, in the maritime and offshore sectors.Both parties will work closely on optimizing existing processes and improving efficiencies across newbuilding…

Japan's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel Kaguya conducted its 100th ship-to-ship supply of LNG fuel, with the refueling of the car carrier Sakura Leader at the port of Mikawa in Aichi Prefecture.Kaguya was completed in 2020 as Japan's first LNG bunkering vessel and is operated by Central LNG Marine Fuel, a JV company among NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, JERA Co, and others.Since October of the same year, the vessel has been part of Japan's first LNG bunkering business, using the ship-to-ship supply method.

Strategic Marine has delivered a a StratCat 27 Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) to ORLEN to operate in Poland’s growing offshore wind sector.The vessel is designed specifically for offshore wind farm operations. It is scheduled to begin operations in the North Sea before transitioning to the Polish exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea.The StratCat 27 is equipped with advanced technologies to meet the demanding conditions of offshore wind farms. The vessel meets Tier III emission requirements and is hybrid-ready…

Cadeler’s newbuild offshore wind installation vessel (WTIV) Wind Peak, designed to be able to transport and install up to seven complete 15 MW offshore wind turbine sets per load, has arrived to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, ahead of its first deployment.The P-class vessel arrived to Rotterdam after 73-day long journey from Cosco Shipyard in Qidong, China.The vessel has sailed more than 14,000 nautical miles with stops in Singapore, Cape Town, Las Palmas and now, Rotterdam.Wind…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for the joint development of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) system for green ammonia. The FPSO process has been widely used in the oil and gas industries, but its application for ammonia is relatively new. The unit will use renewable energy to provide power for electrolysis of seawater to produce green hydrogen, which will be combined with nitrogen and synthesized to produce green ammonia…